Biology Commons^™

Drives Blunted By Time: The Effects Of Aging On Motivational Behaviors And Responses To Social Isolation In Mice, Hanyue Lei

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Mental health in the elderly is an escalating social problem as the world population ages rapidly. Older adults are more susceptible to stressors like social isolation, which is a common risk factor for many mental disorders and health issues. However, how aging affects specific mental functions like motivational drive and stress responses, as well as the underlying neurobiological mechanisms, remains largely unstudied. We comprehensively examined behavioral phenotypes in both young and aged mice under the normal grouped-housing condition versus chronic social isolation treatment. The results suggested that natural aging and social isolation both impaired motivational behaviors and induce depressive- and …

Multiple Structural And Functional Annotations Based In-Silico Characterization Of Q9brx8 Protein, Eiman Zahid, Muhammad Farhan Sarwar

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Numerous proteins found in humans are poorly understood because there is a dearth of experimental evidence. Hypothetical proteins (HPs) or uncharacterized proteins are the terms used to describe these proteins. In this work, one of these proteins, Q9BRX8, is investigated using in-silico or bioinformatics tools to reveal its significant properties. In this regard, NCBI for the sequence retrieval, ProtParam tool for analysis of physiochemical properties, SOPMA for secondary structure prediction, SWISS-Model for homology modelling, STRING for protein-protein interaction and HDOCK for protein-protein docking analysis among other tools, were incorporated. The physiochemical characteristics indicated that Q9BRX8, which has an instability score …

Physiological Heterogeneity And Pain-Associated Plasticity In Human Sensory Neurons, Jiwon Yi

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Despite the widespread prevalence of chronic pain and extensive drug development efforts, non-opioid pharmacotherapeutic options for severe and chronic pain are limited. Nociceptors in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are peripheral sensors of noxious stimuli that play an integral role in pain transmission. Neuroplasticity in the periphery, such as hyperexcitability and spontaneous activity of sensory neurons following inflammation or injury, plays a central role in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic pain. As such, a detailed understanding of the mechanisms associated with peripheral sensitization may reveal novel therapeutic targets of pain. An increasing number of studies have shown that …

Heterogeneity Of Human Tissue-Resident Lymphocytes, Natalia Jaeger

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The immune system plays a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and defending against pathogens. Recent discoveries have highlighted the significance of tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) and Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs) in tissue immunity. TRM exhibit memory-like properties, persist long-term in various tissues, and express markers such as CD69, CD103, and transcription factors like Hobit and Blimp-1. Similarly, ILCs, considered the innate counterparts of T cells, are abundant at barrier organs and mucosal sites, sharing similar markers and transcriptional factors with TRM, and rapidly responding to insults. Unraveling the heterogeneity and function of tissue-resident lymphocytes is crucial for understanding …

Scents Of Place: Exploring Self, Place And Planet Through Botanical Fragrance, Jennifer L. Kitson, Donna M. Sweigart

Open Educational Resources

This learning module provides instructors with an experiential field guide for introducing students to the United Nations Inner Development Goals Framework through self-guided mindful smelling activities and reflection prompts related to botanical fragrance. The interdisciplinary nature of this module allows for use or adaptation in a wide range of courses looking for outdoor, place-based and self-guided experiential learning to explore the role of botanical fragrance for people, plants and pollinators. The overarching goal is to deepen students’ connections to their senses (and scents) of self, place and planet through exploring botanical fragrance with mindful smelling. The learning activities in this …

Multi-Species Host Use By The Parasitoid Fly Ormia Lineifrons, Kyle J. Rogers, Oliver M. Beckers

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

Antagonistic species relationships such as parasitoid/host interactions lead to evolutionary arms races between species. Many parasitoids use more than one host species, requiring the parasitoid to adapt to multiple hosts, sometimes being the leader or the follower in the evolutionary back-and-forth between species. Thus, multi-species interactions are dynamic and show temporary evolutionary outcomes at a given point in time. We investigated the interactions of the multivoltine parasitoid fly Ormia lineifrons that uses different katydid hosts for each of its fly generations sequentially over time. We hypothesized that this fly is adapted to utilizing all hosts equally well for the population …

Transcriptional Pausing Factor M1bp Regulates Cellular Homeostasis By Suppressing Autophagy And Apoptosis In Drosophila Eye, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Hannah Darnell, Akanksha Raj, Madhuri Kango-Singh

Biology Faculty Publications

During organogenesis cellular homeostasis plays a crucial role in patterning and growth. The role of promoter proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II, which regulates transcription of several developmental genes by GAGA factor or Motif 1 Binding Protein (M1BP), has not been fully understood in cellular homeostasis. Earlier, we reported that M1BP, a functional homolog of ZKSCAN3, regulates wingless (wg) and caspase-dependent cell death (apoptosis) in the Drosophila eye. Further, blocking apoptosis does not fully rescue the M1BP^RNAi phenotype of reduced eye. Therefore, we looked for other possible mechanism(s). In a forward genetic screen, members of the Jun-amino-terminal-(NH2)-Kinase (JNK) pathway …

Tafopathies Result From Derangements In Transcriptional Regulation Of Metabolism, Jamison Maxwell Leid

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Cardiogenesis and the maintenance of cardiac physiology necessitate dynamic and carefully coordinated transcription programs. Studies in a many systems – both in vitro and in vivo – have elucidated critical signaling pathways, including Bmp, Fgf, Wnt, and Notch that induce a cardiogenic transcription program, thereby driving cardiac specification and differentiation. Recently, studies have discovered additional regulation at the epigenetic level that contributes to the tight temporal and spatial control of cardiac gene expression during development. Because transcriptional regulation is essential to cardiogenesis, changes in transcriptional regulation result in developmental defects, including but not limited to CHDs, the leading inborn cause …

Streamlined Synthesis Of Potential Dual-Emissive Fluorescent Silicon Quantum Dots (Siqds) For Cell Imaging, Di Sun, Steven Wu, Jeremy P. Martin, Kirati Tayutivutikul, Guodong Du, Colin Combs, Diane Darland, Julia Zhao

Biology Faculty Publications

One of the current challenges of working with nanomaterials in bioapplications is having a tool that is biocompatible (non-toxic) and produces stable, intense fluorescence for bioimaging. To address these challenges, we have developed a streamlined and one-pot synthetic route for silicon-based quantum dots (SiQDs) using a hydrothermal method. Part of our unique approach for designing the SiQDs was to incorporate (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), which is an amphipathic molecule with hydroxyl and amine functional groups available for modification. In order to reduce the toxicity of APTES, we chose glucose as a reducing agent for the reaction. The resulting SiQDs produced potent, …

In Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, And Photoprotective Activities Of Aqueous Extract Of The Endemic Plant Hammada Scoparia L. From Algeria, Benine Chaima, Djahra Ali Boutlelis, Laiche Ammar Touhami, Tlili Hajer, Tliba Ali, Ben Arfa Abdelkarim, Najjaa Hanen

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This study aimed to analyze the chemical profile and evaluate the biological activities of the aqueous extract of H. Scoparia, an endemic plant found in Southeastern Algeria. The aqueous extract was subjected to phytochemical screening, RP-HPLC, and FT-IR analysis. The anti-inflammatory activity was examined using the protein denaturation method, and the photoprotective activity was evaluated using UV-Visible spectrophotometry. The antioxidant activity was assessed using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays. The study found the presence of various secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, tannins, and saponins. This study suggests that H. Scoparia extract has the potential as a natural source of bio-actives …

Evidence That Bivalve Burrowing Is Mediated By Serotonin Receptors: Activation Of Foot Inflation And Protrusion By Serotonin, Serotonergic Ligands And Ssri-Type Antidepressants In Three Species Of Freshwater Bivalve, Peter P. Fong, Rebecca Blaszczyk, Mary Butler, Jake Stergio

Biology Faculty Publications

Foot inflation and protrusion in bivalve mollusks is part of a sequence of events necessary for burrowing into the substrate. Although this process been observed after exogenous exposure to the neurotransmitter serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] and by some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type antidepressants, no study has shown that foot inflation and protrusion as a precursor to burrowing is under serotonergic control. In order to elucidate the physiological mechanism mediating this response, we tested over 2,000 freshwater bivalves in three species by exposing them to 5-HT, two 5-HT receptor agonists, two receptor antagonists and five antidepressants. Fingernail clams (Sphaerium striatinum), …

Prevalence And Antibiotic Resistance Profile Of Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia And Bloodstream Infections Among Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients And Their Relation To Procalcitonin, Azhin D. Aziz, Adel K. Khider

Polytechnic Journal

Background and Objectives: in COVID-19 patients, secondary bacterial infections (SBIs) are a known complication of viral respiratory infections and are significantly associated with poorer outcomes.Our study aimed to determine the prevalence, clinical profile, antimicrobial resistance profile, and patient outcomes of secondary bacterial pneumonia and blood infections in COVID-19 hospitalized patients and their correlation with procalcitonin (PCT) levels.Method: During 7 months’ study, 260 clinical samples (blood and respiratory specimens) were collected from 130 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, of which 90 were from intensive care units (ICUs) and 40 from non-ICU departments, at six hospitals in Erbil city, Iraq. All samples were applied …

Corticosterone Alters Body Weight, But Not Metabolites, During Chronic Stress, Carolyn M. Bauer, M. A. Oranges, G. Firempong, L. M. Romero

Biology Faculty Works

The stress response is partially mediated by increased levels of circulating glucocorticoids. While the stress response may be adaptive in the short term, chronically elevated levels of glucocorticoids can be pathological. We aimed to verify that chronic stress causes metabolic dysregulation via increased corticosterone (Cort) exposure by monitoring free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations (evidence of fat breakdown), uric acid concentrations (evidence of protein breakdown), and organ weights (furcular fat, abdominal fat, liver, and pectoralis muscle) in chronically stressed juvenile house sparrows (Passer domesticus). The sparrows were chronically stressed for 3 wk by applying a series of rotating mild psychological stressors. …

Phylogenetic Relationships Of The Woodlouse Flies (Diptera: Rhinophorinae) And The Cluster Flies (Diptera: Polleniidae), Silvia Gisondi, Eliana Buenaventura, Arn Rytter Jensen, John O. Stireman, Silvio S. Nihei, Thomas Pape, Pierfilippo Cerretti

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Phylogenetic relationships within the oestroid subclades Rhinophorinae (Calliphoridae) and Polleniidae were reconstructed for the first time, applying a Sanger sequencing approach using the two protein-coding nuclear markers CAD (carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase; 1794 bp) and MCS (molybdenum cofactor sulfurase; 2078 bp). Three genera of Polleniidae and nineteen genera of Rhinophorinae were analyzed together with a selection of taxa representing the major lineages of Oestroidea (non-rhinophorine Calliphoridae, Oestridae, Sarcophagidae, Tachinidae). The selected markers provide good resolution and moderate to strong support of the distal branches, but weak support for several deeper nodes. Polleniidae (cluster flies) emerge as monophyletic …

A Lizard Is Never Late: Squamate Genomics As A Recent Catalyst For Understanding Sex Chromosome And Microchromosome Evolution, Brendan J. Pinto, Tony Gamble, Chase H. Smith, Melissa A. Wilson

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

In 2011, the first high-quality genome assembly of a squamate reptile (lizard or snake) was published for the green anole. Dozens of genome assemblies were subsequently published over the next decade, yet these assemblies were largely inadequate for answering fundamental questions regarding genome evolution in squamates due to their lack of contiguity or annotation. As the “genomics age” was beginning to hit its stride in many organismal study systems, progress in squamates was largely stagnant following the publication of the green anole genome. In fact, zero high-quality (chromosome-level) squamate genomes were published between the years 2012 and 2017. However, since …

Roost Selection By Synanthropic Bats In Rural Kenya: Implications For Human-Wildlife Conflict And Zoonotic Pathogen Spillover, Reilly T. Jackson, Paul W. Webala, Joseph G. Ogola, Tamika J. Lunn, Kristian M. Forbes

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many wildlife species are synanthropic and use structures built by humans, creating a high-risk interface for human–wildlife conflict and zoonotic pathogen spillover. However, studies that investigate features of urbanizing areas that attract or repel wildlife are currently lacking. We surveyed 85 buildings used by bats and 172 neighbouring buildings unused by bats (controls) in southeastern Kenya during 2021 and 2022 and evaluated the role of microclimate and structural attributes in building selection. We identified eight bat species using buildings, with over 25% of building roosts used concurrently by multiple species. Bats selected taller cement-walled buildings with higher water vapour pressure …

A Biological Lens On Food Deserts [Biology], Claudette Davis

Open Educational Resources

SCB101 is a non-major biology course. In Fall 2022, the course was designated as an Experiential Learning-LaGuardia Humanitarian Initiative (LHI) course in CUNYFirst. LHI is LaGuardia's experiential learning program that helps students to critically reflect on global issues and develop sustainable solutions in partnership with local and global organizations. For the 2022-2023 academic year, LHI focused on two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG): Goal 2 and Goal 10. UNSDG 2 aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. UNSDG 10 addresses reducing inequality both within and among countries. Thus, I developed an assignment to …

Generation Of Lexa Enhancer-Trap Lines In Drosophila By An International Scholastic Network, Cory J. Evans, Ella S. Kim, Arjun Rajan, Kathleen Chang, Sanath Govindarajan, Clara Gulick, Eva English, Bianca Rodriguez, Orion Bloomfield, Stella Nakada, Charlotte Beard, Sarah O’Connor, Sophia Mastroianni, Emma Downey, Matthew Feigenbaum, Caitlin Tolentino, Abigail Pace, Marina Khan, Soyoun Moon, Jordan Diprima, Amber Syed, Flora Lin, Yasmina Abukhadra, Isabella Bacon, John Beckerle, Sophia Cho, Nana Esi Donkor, Lucy Garberg, Ava Harrington, Mai Hoang, Nosa Lawani, Ayush Noori, Euwie Park

Biology Faculty Works

Conditional gene regulation in Drosophila through binary expression systems like the LexA-LexAop system provides a superb tool for investigating gene and tissue function. To increase the availability of defined LexA enhancer trap insertions, we present molecular, genetic, and tissue expression studies of 301 novel Stan-X LexA enhancer traps derived from mobilization of the index SX4 line. This includes insertions into distinct loci on the X, II, and III chromosomes that were not previously associated with enhancer traps or targeted LexA constructs, an insertion into ptc, and seventeen insertions into natural transposons. A subset of enhancer traps was expressed in …

Lead Exposure Of Mainland Australia's Top Avian Predator, Jordan O. Hampton, Michael T. Lohr, Aaron J. Specht, Damien Nzabanita, Jasmin Hufschmid, Lee Berger, Kate Mcginnis, Jane Melville, Emma Bennett, James M. Pay

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Lead (Pb) toxicity, through ingestion of lead ammunition in carcasses, is a threat to scavenging birds worldwide, but has received little attention in Australia. We analyzed lead exposure in the wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax), the largest raptor species found in mainland Australia and a facultative scavenger. Eagle carcasses were collected opportunistically throughout south-eastern mainland Australia between 1996 and 2022. Lead concentrations were measured in bone samples from 62 animals via portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Lead was detected (concentration > 1 ppm) in 84% (n = 52) of the bone samples. The mean lead concentration of birds in which lead was detected …

Identifying Sources Of Antibiotic Resistance Genes In The Environment Using The Microbial Find, Inform, And Test Framework, Corinne Wiesner-Friedman, Rachelle E. Beattie, Jill R. Stewart, Krassimira R. Hristova, Marc L. Serre

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing public health concern for humans, animals, and the environment. However, the contributions of spatially distributed sources of AMR in the environment are not well defined.

Methods: To identify the sources of environmental AMR, the novel microbial Find, Inform, and Test (FIT) model was applied to a panel of five antibiotic resistance-associated genes (ARGs), namely, erm(B), tet(W), qnrA, sul1, and intI1, quantified from riverbed sediment and surface water from a mixed-use region.

Results: A one standard deviation increase in the modeled contributions of elevated AMR from bovine sources or land-applied waste sources [land application …

Past And Ongoing Field-Based Studies Of Myxomycetes, Steven L. Stephenson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Evidence from molecular studies indicates that myxomycetes (also called myxogastrids or plasmodial slime molds) have a long evolutionary history, and the oldest known fossil is from the mid-Cretaceous. However, they were not “discovered” until 1654, when a brief description and a woodcut depicting what is almost certainly the common species Lycogala epidendrum was published. First thought to be fungi, myxomycetes were not universally recognized as completely distinct until well into the twentieth century. Biodiversity surveys for the group being carried out over several years are relatively recent, with what is apparently the first example being carried out in the 1930s. …

Effects Of Measurement Methods And Growing Conditions On Phenotypic Expression Of Photosynthesis In Seven Diverse Rice Genotypes, Megan Reavis, Larry C. Purcell, Andy Pereira, Kusum Naithani

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction: Light response curves are widely used to quantify phenotypic expression of photosynthesis by measuring a single sample and sequentially altering light intensity within a chamber (sequential method) or by measuring different samples that are each acclimated to a different light level (non-sequential method). Both methods are often conducted in controlled environments to achieve steady-state results, and neither method involves equilibrating the entire plant to the specific light level.

Methods: Here, we compare sequential and non-sequential methods in controlled (greenhouse), semi-controlled (plant grown in growth chamber and acclimated to field conditions 2-3 days before measurements), and field environments. We selected …

The Minimal Suf System Is Not Required For Fe–S Cluster Biogenesis In The Methanogenic Archaeon Methanosarcina Acetivorans, Jasleen Saini, Thomas M. Deere, Daniel J. Lessner

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Iron–sulfur (Fe–S) proteins are essential for the ability of methanogens to carry out methanogenesis and biological nitrogen fixation (diazotrophy). Nonetheless, the factors involved in Fe–S cluster biogenesis in methanogens remain largely unknown. The minimal SUF Fe–S cluster biogenesis system (i.e., SufBC) is postulated to serve as the primary system in methanogens. Here, the role of SufBC in Methanosarcina acetivorans, which contains two sufCB gene clusters, was investigated. The CRISPRi-dCas9 and CRISPR-Cas9 systems were utilized to repress or delete sufC1B1 and sufC2B2, respectively. Neither the dual repression of sufC1B1 and sufC2B2 nor the deletion of both sufC1B1 and sufC2B2 …

Guar-Based Injectable Hydrogel For Drug Delivery And In Vitro Bone Cell Growth, Humandra Poudel, Ambar R. Rangumagar, Pooja Singh, Adeolu Oluremi, Nawab Ali, Fumiya Watanabe, Joseph Batta-Mpouma, Jin-Woo Kim, Ahona Ghosh, Anindya Ghosh

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Injectable hydrogels offer numerous advantages in various areas, which include tissue engineering and drug delivery because of their unique properties such as tunability, excellent carrier properties, and biocompatibility. These hydrogels can be administered with minimal invasiveness. In this study, we synthesized an injectable hydrogel by rehydrating lyophilized mixtures of guar adamantane (Guar-ADI) and poly-β-cyclodextrin (p-βCD) in a solution of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) maintained at pH 7.4. The hydrogel was formed via host-guest interaction between modified guar (Guar-ADI), obtained by reacting guar gum with 1-adamantyl isocyanate (ADI) and p-βCD. Comprehensive characterization of all synthesized materials, including the hydrogel, was performed using …

Deepening Undergraduate Students’ Thinking About Central Dogma Through Problem-Based Learning, Katherine Alberta Sharp, Rebecca Mc Nall Krall, Jeffrey Chalfant

Teacher Education and Certification Faculty Research & Creative Works

A Common Belief among Pre-Medical and Medical Students is that Biochemistry is Not Relevant to Practicing Medicine. the Problem-Based Approach of Case Studies Has Been Used in Medical Education to Scaffold the Application of Content to Clinical Cases, But Few Studies Report on a Similar Use in Undergraduate Biochemistry. Case Studies in Biochemistry and Related Disciplines Have Been Previously Reported as Increasing Learning Motivation and Supporting Depth of Knowledge. Additionally, Students Engaging in Case Studies Outperform Students in Traditional Instruction. the Objective of This Qualitative Case Study Was to Find How the Timing of a Medical Case Study within the …

Reed Bamboos Drive Skull Shape Evolution In Bush Frogs Of The Western Ghats, Peninsular India, Kalpana Das, Mark-Oliver Rödel, Edward Stanley, Achyuthan N. Srikanthan, Kartik Shanker, Seenapuram Palaniswamy Vijayakumar

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Reed bamboo is a major ecological and economic resource for many animals, including humans. Nonetheless, the influence of this plant's evolutionary role on the morphology of animal species remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the significance of bamboo habitats as ecological opportunities in shaping the skull morphology of bush frogs (Raorchestes) from the Western Ghats, Peninsular India. We applied a three-dimensional (3D) geometric morphometric approach to capture the skull shape of 55 species of bush frogs. We visualized the skull shape variables in phylomorphospace with principal component analysis and performed phylogenetic generalized least-squares analysis to assess the impact of cranial size …

The Dangers Of Staphylococcus Aureus And Antimicrobial Resistance, Madison Pines

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the etiological agent responsible for many problematic infections. The signs and symptoms of an infection caused by MRSA differ based on the route of transmission and type of infection. Staphylococcus aureus can secrete toxins that act as virulence factors and aid host invasion. Obesity, old age, being a health care worker, playing contact sports, living in a crowded place, hospitalization, recent antibiotic use, and HIV patients are more at risk of developing an infection caused by MRSA. An abundance of factors has contributed to antimicrobial resistance, like misuse of antibiotics in clinical and agricultural settings …

Il-15 And Ifn-G Regulation In Murine Nk Cells, Maria Cimpean

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that play important roles in antiviral and antitumor responses through their cytotoxicity mechanisms and the ability to modulate immune responses through production of cytokines such as IFN-g. NK cells are able to execute these responses rapidly and without prior sensitization due to their germline-encoded receptors. Recent work in the field of immunometabolism has highlighted the impact that changes in cellular metabolism can have on immune cell function, including NK cell effector functions. Our lab has previously reported activation-specific metabolic requirements for IFN-g production by resting murine NK cells in vitro, which IL-15 …

Obesity And Renal Cell Carcinoma: Biological Mechanisms And Perspectives, Neha Venkatesh, Alberto Martini, Jennifer L Mcquade, Pavlos Msaouel, Andrew W Hahn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Obesity, defined by body mass index (BMI), is an established risk factor for specific renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes such as clear cell RCC, the most common RCC histology. Many studies have identified an association between obesity and improved survival after diagnosis of RCC, a potential "obesity paradox." Clinically, there is uncertainty whether improved outcomes observed after diagnosis are driven by stage, type of treatment received, or artifacts of longitudinal changes in weight and body composition. The biological mechanisms underlying obesity's influence on RCC are not fully established, but multiomic and mechanistic studies suggest an impact on tumor metabolism, particularly …

Determining The Influence Of Abiotic And Biotic Predictors On Ecological Niche Models, Erica Johnson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Biotic variables, including those reflecting interactions such as competition and parasitism, are generally assumed to have negligible effects on broadscale species distributions and are typically excluded from ecological niche models (ENMs). However, the role such interactions play in shaping species distributions is increasingly recognized, sparking the development of methods for their integration into ENMs.

Among the most common approaches are those that limit the ENM output of the focal species by the distribution of biotic interactors (post-processing) and those that incorporate biotic interactors as predictor variables. These endeavors hold widespread and critical usages, such as predicting the impacts of climate …